Whānau Stories

In a service at Ōnuku Marae in January, Richard Rangi Wallace was ordained as the new Bishop of Te Waipounamu. This is the first time a person of Ngāi Tahu whakapapa has held the prestigious position. Bishop Wallace says he was humbled by the 400 people who attended his ordainment ceremony. “I am happy to…

Young Ngāi Tahu entrepreneur, Lucas Smith has been setting up businesses since he was fifteen. After starting a business selling clothes out of his high school dorm, Lucas has moved on to create his company, Walk On, a company that makes merino wool blister protection product that are 100% natural, ethically farmed and biodegradable. Lucas…

As part of Their Majesties Royal tour of New Zealand, His Majesty King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima Zorreguieta were greeted by a pōwhiri at Tuahiwi Marae and visited the Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu corporate office in Christchurch. During their visit they recieved a pounamu taonga, were given a presentation by Tā Mark Solomon and met with Ngāi…

While most people watched the Paralympics on television, Ngāi Tahu athlete, Holly Robinson won a silver medal in the women’s javelin, and was the New Zealand flag bearer at the opening ceremony. In her competition, Holly threw a personal best of 41.22m to secure the silver medal in the javelin and she says it was…

Ngāi Tahu scholar Atholl Anderson has been honoured with one of the country’s most prestigious awards – the Prime Minister’s Award for Literary Achievement (Non-Fiction). This award recognises the hard work and dedication Anderson has shown throughout his career. A book he co-authored, Tangata Whenua: An Illustrated History, has now sold 7000 copies and won…

Materia Hutana has been given a once-in-a-life time opportunity to represent New Zealand as a youth ambassador at the 100-year commemoration of the Battle of Somme in France. Materia (Kai Tahu, Kahungunu, Nga Puhi) says she is honoured and nervous at the opportunity. “When I found out, I was trying not to show any emotion,…

Javelin thrower Holly Robinson (Ngāi Tahu) has been named the flag bearer for the New Zealand Paralympic team competing in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil from September 7-18. Speaking in the lead-up to the games, Holly said it was “an amazing feeling and a huge honour” to be named flag-bearer. She said all the athlete had…

The Whakapapa Unit at Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu has embarked on a new project to bring to light the Ngāi Tahu heroes of World War I (WWI). Allanah Burgess, Whakapapa Projects Advisor, described those who served in WWI as unspoken heroes of the tribe. “We often acknowledge contemporary Ngāi Tahu heroes but we don’t…

The medal dominance of Team Aotearoa at the Va’a World Waka Ama Sprint Championships has been described as a ‘black wave’. Aoraki Matatū paddler Craig Pauling (Ngāi Tahu – Taumutu), says the Tahitian media commented frequently on the New Zealanders performance. “People kept talking about a ‘black wave’ because Tahiti had never been beaten at…

Danny Levi was on a bus travelling to a game against the Sydney Roosters when he found out he was named in the Kiwis squad for the 2016 ANZAC day test against Australia. “It’s a huge accomplishment to be named in the squad. Playing for the Kiwis is something you always dream about and to…